How the Home Remodeling Industry Can be Sustainable

The home remodeling industry can be a sustainable industry by using reused and recycled materials and adopting practices that encourage conservation and discourage waste and depletion of natural resources. Sustainability has gained traction as the way to encourage people to live more environmentally friendly and discontinue engaging in practices that harm the earth.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) has created a green remodeling program for educating contractors on ways to incorporate sustainable building methods and concepts when engaged in remodeling a home.

Green Remodeling Concepts

NARI’s green remodeling concepts includes looking at ways in which to make the home as comfortable and healthy for the homeowner, as well as efficient. The concepts of NARI’s green remodeling initiative centers around improved air quality, the conservation of energy through the use of alternatives, the conservation of natural resources, reduction of waste and the incorporation of green-certified products.

Going Green

Going green is good for the home remodeling industry because it helps reduce building costs while making homes more livable. Twenty percent of energy consumption in the United States is by the homes we live in, according to the Sustainable Building Industry Council. Employing sustainable living concepts can reduce this consumption by 30 to 50 percent.

Going green has the added benefit of reducing the depletion of our forests and trees. With 40 percent of the oxygen that we breathe being produced by trees and 25 percent of our building supplies coming from these same trees, sustainability reduces our reliance on this natural resource and increase oxygen production.

Implementing Sustainability for the Home Remodeling Industry

There are several ways, according to NARI, that home remodelers can employ sustainable remodeling concepts in their practices, including the following:

• Using non-toxic paints and sealants for walls and wood
• Install a programmable thermostat that controls the amount of energy that the home uses
• Install energy efficient appliances that have been certified by the EPA as energy efficient
• Use natural flooring
• Use local building materials as a way to reduce transportation costs and burning fossil fuels
• Use more natural fiber rugs and fabrics and rely less on synthetics that take energy to make
• Recycled material roof shingles and tiles
• Install energy efficient lighting and lighting fixtures, including those that operate on a timer
• Insulated hot water pipes to prevent loss heat and energy
• Install tankless water heaters
• Use only quality insulation products that meet the recommended R-value for a region
• Use native plants for landscaping

These are some of the tips that can help the home remodeling industry achieve greater sustainability. The best part of this is it is endorsed by NARI, the home remodeling industry association. Further information and tips on going green and sustainability in the home remodeling industry can be found on the NARI website or through a local building council. They can provide a complete lists of steps, tips and best practices from throughout the industry on going green and introducing more sustainability concepts in home remodeling.